Monsoon hits 18 districts of Rajasthan, thousands displaced

Jaipur, Aug 28 (): Normal life was paralyzed in the State of Rajasthan on Monday, as rains continue to lash the state in which a total of thirty-six people have been reported dead in just one week.

Almost eighteen districts are severely affected by the rain, frustrating the administration’s effort to restore normalcy as relief operations were completely held back, said officials. While government sources declared the death toll to be around thirty-six, unofficially it is declared fifty or more.

People living in the low-lying areas were the most affected, where relief operations have been in process since last Wednesday. Fresh downpours have forced authorities to re-evaluate the damages and police stations have been ordered to monitor water logging.

“Officials had completed about eighty percent of the evaluation of the damages that was caused due to rain but following the fresh downpour, we have to once again direct the official to conduct further evaluation,” said Jaipur Collector Naveen Mahajan.

All the police stations have been alerted by the district administration to carry out the relief operations appropriately. All the equipments as well as the vehicles to carry out the relief work are being activated from the police stations, said an administrative official.

Army personnel are also put to service in many villages. Nearly four thousand people lost their homes following heavy rains that hit even the ongoing relief operations in some worst affected areas. Four children were drowned in a rain –fed river in Dudu village near Jaipur-Ajmer high way.

In Jaipur the city Collector has put ten boats on substitute in case of any emergency. ” Five boats had already been sent to Madrampura kachi basti,” said an official.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared that the state government has planned to restore the drainage system in Jaipur and get better equipment to deal with rain-led disaster which is likely to cost Rs 100 crore.